THE CHECK COLLECTOR
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Editor: Robert D. Hohertz
PO Box 808
Northfield, MN 55057-0808
Advertising Manager: All advertising should be
channeled through the Treasurer, Dick Naven. Dick's
address is on the following page.
The Check Collector (ISSN 1066-3061) is published
quarterly by the American Society of Check Collectors, 473
East Elm, Sycamore, IL 60178-1934. Subscription only by
membership, dues $13 per year in the US ($17 per year in
Canada and Mexico, $23 elsewhere). Periodicals postage
paid at Northfield, MN 55057 and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: send address changes io.The Check
Collector , 473 East Elm, Sycamore, IL 60178-1934. All rights
reserved.
To our members:
Write something for The Check Collector ! We need articles
about checks, check-related subjects, and fiscal documents.
We retype all material. Illustrations require an original or a
good, clear, black and white copy, preferably as large as can
be obtained. Original checks sent in are copied and returned
carefully. Any questions, ask the Editor!
To our advertisers:
Deadline for advertising copy to run in the January-March
issue of The Check Collector is February 15.
The Check Collector is an effective means of reaching the
check collecting hobby, and our membership of collectors
and dealers of checks and related financial documents. It
contains feature articles about checks and check collecting
and news about the hobby.
Contents
4 Chesapeake Bay - Leifer
7 Find on the Internet - Time Savings Bank
8 Finds in the Marketplace - Sowards
9 Revenue Stamped Paper Exhibit - Hohertz
17 The Ivory Trade - Kemp
19 Letter to the Editor - Adams
22 Editor's Response
24 Finds on the Internet - Hohertz
25 Announcements
25 Secretary's Report
26 Member Exchange
26 Find in the Marketplace - Lady's Teller
27 Find in the Marketplace - Oregon Bill of Exchange
VISIT OUR WEB PAGE
http://members.aol.com/asccinfo
OR
http://asccinfo.com
Advertising orders must be paid in advance and shall be
restricted to checks and related fiscal documents, publica¬
tions, accessories, and supplies. The ASCC accepts adver¬
tising in good faith, reserving the right to edit copy. Copy for
ads must be camera-ready or the Editor will set it as best he
can.
ASCC assumes no financial responsibility for typographical
errors in advertising. However, it will reprint that portion of
an advertisement in which a typographical error appeared
upon prompt notification of such error.
The cover speaks for itself. Best wishes for twelve full months
of health, happiness and prosperity.
In this issue there is a lot of Show and Tell - finds on the
internet and elsewhere in the marketplace. Why not show
some of your favorite items to the other members? Good,
clear black-and-white Xerox images are all that is needed.
This issue also completes my showing of parlor car tickets -
it's a promise. On to other things.
All advertisements and payments should be submitted to the
Treasurer.
Advertising rates are as follows:
One quarter page $25.00/issue
Business card size $15.00/issue
$10 discount for four issues paid at once.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
2
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CHECK COLLECTORS, INC.
A non-profit organization organized under Section 501-(c)-(3)
President:
Robert D. Hohertz
PO Box 808
Northfield, MN 55057-0808
rdh @ northfieldmail.com
Vice-President:
Michael S. Turrini
POBox4104
Vallejo, CA 94590
Secretary:
Lyman Hensley
473 East Elm
Sycamore, IL 60178-1934
ilmo2 @ netzero.com
Treasurer:
Dick Naven
6802 S.W. 33rd PI.
Portland, OR 97219
dnaven @ teleport .com
Directors:
Lyman Hensley (2006)
Robert D. Hohertz (2006)
M. S. Kazanjian (2006)
Coleman Leifer (2007)
Dick Naven (2007)
Lee E. Poleske (2006)
Phillip G.Ryman (2007)
Robert A. Spence (Emeritus)
Michael S. Turrini (2007)
Membership Interests
1. Checks, general
2. Checks, USA
3. US Government Checks
4. Miscellaneous Fiscals:
Bank Drafts
Bills of Exchange
Certificates of Deposit
Promissory Notes
Warrants
Receipts
Departments:
Attorney:
Hermann Ivester
5 Leslie Circle
Little rock, AR 72205-2529
Check Pool:
Phillip G. Ryman
859 Park Circle
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
ryman859pa@aol.com
Editor, The Check Collector.
Robert D. Hohertz - see above
Librarian:
Charles V. Kemp
PO Box 71892
Madison Hts, MI 48071
Membership Directory:
Lyman Hensley - see above
Security Printers:
William G. Kanowsky
1533 Savannah Dr.
Evansville, IN 47714
Slide Program:
Larry Adams
812 1/2 Story St.
Boone, IA 50036
5. Checks, Great Britian
6. Checks, Canada
7. Checks, World
8. Travelers Checks & Money Orders
9. Specimen Checks
10. Ration Checks
11. Refund/Rebate Checks
12. Other
14. Counter & Modern Checks
20. Vignettes
Dues:
US: $13 per year
Canada, Mexico: $17 per year
Elsewhere: $23 per year
Security Printers Guide:
$5 in looseleaf form - order from
William G. Kanowsky, address
above.
Electronic form from Lyman Hensley
free via e-mail or send diskette and
return postage. Address above.
21. Autographs
22. Railroads, Steamboats, Mining
23. Banking History
24. Security Printing & Printers
25. Check Protectors & Cancel
Devices
26. Wells Fargo History
30. Stock & Bond Certificates
31. Revenue Stamped Documents
32. Emergency Scrip
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
3
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Chesapeake Bay Steamship Lines
by Coleman Leifer
During the 19 th and 20 ,h century several steamship lines plied between Baltimore and various towns on the Chesapeake Bay
and the bay’s tributaries. The stock certificates for three of these lines are illustrated.
CAPITAL STOCK S60Q.000
StEAMBQ^
UltimoRJE. (
y///j S/j/yA/j, ///,// '1st- bJ-c. L. v
L j rtf/t/AvS // l / x ' C /~k. i t o? >.<£_ —* -— -_ • AA/ZUJ // /A/z
TH E WEEMS STEAMBOAT COM PAN Yof BALTIMORE CITY.
/// //,, ///*■/■./sf /A* A'r/nfiszz/y /?* /•?/</r/z /y'/A/J Af)'/////■#/?
JVJinrsS S/A tfA,,,//A,■
,j's///"//YlfJ A//■' ■ Ah.rJssA/t/,,//tz/S■ Arr/zr/f
.A-/) -y S//C-.
MtiAb? f?uz<A
The Weems Steamboat Company was founded in 1819 and existed until 1905 when it was acquired by the Baltimore,
Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway. The Maryland Steamboat Company, founded in 1869, also became part of the Baltimore,
Chesapeake and Atlantic, which was a Pennsylvania Railroad subsidiary.
The Baltimore, Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway consisted of 90 miles of single-line track between Claiborne MD, across
the bay from Baltimore, to Ocean City with a branch to Laurel. Delaware and 1400 miles of steamship lines to towns along
the Choptank, Nanticoke. Pocomoke, Messongo. Occohannok, Piankatank and Tuckahoe Rivers on the Delmarva Peninsula.
The steamship service continued until 1929.
The Chesapeake Steamship Company provided service from Baltimore to several points in Virginia. One line ran to Old
Point Comfort and Norfolk and another to York River Landings, West Point and Richmond. It eventually became part of the
Southern Railway system. The service continued until the 1940’s.
Illustrated with this article, in addition to the stock certificates are three checks from the Maryland Steamboat Company,
each with a different imprinted revenue and vignette and a check from the Baltimore, Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway with
an RN-X7 imprint
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
4
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
; MakyV
Maryland
BALTIMORE
This is to ( ertiiv,
. ssMy/rS/r^ 'j
/ ■'/,///(/'//rr/Y'//*
/f/r/tih 4-//f//s r// Mq
. '////■) n/y /'//
lnWiliipssWli«*r<x)V y"’
/r., , /C//$$(/;,
Steamboat Company of Balfimc
Stock certificates of the Maryland Steamboat Company, above, and the Chesapeake Steamship Company, below.
SszBmsmsi mm-mrim
i<' sa l»«Ui
r/,////„//,
U//C(/ /JoUdJXxy/t /// /// t/yr//r//. A
\oJiJS I U’VyWt/r//yrts/M //////
/// C / y >-
%jr// cK
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
5
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Baltimore, is ' - 18 * 7
Jjllf National Farmers’ and Planters’ Bank,
JHIk OF BALTIMORE,
Tfl Pay to the order of . . 4^:.. . f-
‘1 MARYLAND STEAMBOAT CO. OF BALTIMORE.
T p No. 779
Three Maryland Steamboat Company checks from the 1860's and 70's. The top one has an RN-B1 imprint, the middle, an RN-
Cl, and the bottom, an RN-F1. The checks were printed by Sanford Cushing & Company, Boston; Cushing, Baruda &
Company, New York; and Cushings & Bailey, Baltimore.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
6
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
A check of the Baltimore, Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway, with an X7 imprint. By the time it was written in 1904 the tax paid
by the imprint had been repealed for well over a year.
The check was printed by the American Bank Note Company, Philadelphia.
References:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/VAGuide/transp.html
Official Guide of the Railways and Steam Navigation Lines ot he United States. National Railway Pulication Co.. New York,
1941.
Poor’s Manual of Railroads, H.W. Poor, New York, 1903
A Find on the Internet
• T H R EE H U
'//f/sf/f fr- /Jyr r//rrr//////
This is an early greetings check. At the time it was issued, January 1,1883, the Civil War check tax was still in effect, so it has
a rather whimsical imprint in the center containing a logo of the printer. Worthington & Miller, Chicago, Illinois. Facsimile
imprints for the most part were introduced after the check tax had been repealed.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
7
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Finds in the Marketplace
by Neil Sowards
Recently I purchased two interesting certificates of deposit with beautiful vignettes.
or rur
'sZvfZyZs/J fZ//S : tf/svZt#/ ZiZ'S/iZ'
, r.Vi»i ii i/^m,iii#4r /////)
The first one was issued by the Bank of Akron. Branch of the State Bank of Ohio, to Fred'k Wadsworth Esq., Collector, for
$1,729.95. Wadsworth collected tolls on the Ohio Canal at Akron from 1845 to 1849. This certificate has two nice steel
engraved vignettes. One is of a young woman, probably generic rather than a portrait of a specific one. The other is a rural
scene with various items representing prosperity. It was printed by Rawdon, Wright & Hatch, Cincinnati.
U//4 ////A// /L„A
fr /Zs / /'/■////< j/ d(&.
/////•// // Zr,Z,
The other certificate of deposit was issued by the Chillicothe Branch of the State Bank of Ohio on October 25, 1847 to Chas
G. Voorhies for $330. Voorhies was also a toll collector, on the Ohio Canal at Chillicothe from 1846 to 1850.
The certificate has three nice vignettes. Two men are at the left end, one in military uniform. A farmer is sharpening his scythe
on the right. The printer was Toppan, Carpenter & Company, Cincinnati.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
By Bob Hohertz
(Part 2)
One-Cent Imprint Usage
Parlor Car Tickets
Two-part Pullman tickets with imprinted revenues in yellow and red.
Those specified as Porter's Checks were printed before 1900, when the company changed its name from the Pullman Palace
Car Company to the Pullman Company. Auditor's Checks were printed in 1900 and later.
Used Pullman stubs with yellow and red partial imprints. The one
probably an unintentional variety in the nature of an invert.
•
~ A ' ‘Q *-• p.Oct.Nov.Oec
;c * TRIP MSS $1. KM. !<•'. ,i !;» | 14. 16
* 1 fOO-to 1. or CcoT raSSel W^5jre^KSp»f‘rret>io. < >.
m " ,,n . CAR
o * «.liU-rV.-T.«w FROMySSffi- 1 £ y
- 9
m sf -*‘ A Conductor H W
® ^ (UPPER 1 7 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 »» 12 13 H 15 16
Ato 'LOWER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 16
1
on the right has the dark red imprint facing left, and is
[This page is not a part of the current exhibit, but is based on a page from a one-frame exhibit of tickets only. The bottom
halves of the tickets have a green background, as do the used halves.]
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
9
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
One-Cent Imprint Usage
Parlor Car Tickets
This is the discovery copy of an unused ticket signifying that the holder had paid a surcharge to provide a sleeping berth
even though they were traveling second-class.
The imprint is orange, and the bottom half of the ticket is yellow.
A used half of a second-class upgrade ticket. Orange imprint on yellow background.
[This page is not part of the current exhibit. It was taken from a one-frame exhibit of tickets only.]
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
10
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
One-Cent Imprint Usage
Parlor Car Tickets
The Pullman Company sold multiple-part tickets propr to a trip. These tickets could be divided into three or four parts,
depending on whether there was a section for the issuing agent.
Tickets issued by station agents generally were divided into four sections: one for
the selling agent, one the ticket itself, one for the porter and one for the passenger.
Some, like the example to the left, did not include the agent’s section. This ticket was
issued but not used, and is the only known complete three-part imprinted ticket.
The imprint is on the back of the used fragment
at the right, unlike the one on the three-part
example. Judging from dates stamped on used
copies, imprints were moved to the back
sometime in 1901, possibly to avoid conflict
with the information on the front.
This unused four-part ticket with a red imprint is one of three known. To the right is a
photocopy of the front of the ticket, showing the purpose of the four sections.
pri,r|j#AJS.
\ LOS ANGELES** CHICAGO.
|j.. O . TMIN j|
t i Upper Berth Bp. &£ Nr
._ Q $6,
I XfMt
%
% | Las AngilegR Chicago
i i I - Q *. T MM
■ E feta *«.! QEn*^ ,
1 o J6.
»e.
! Us Angeles It Chicago
" «. O.
[The top section of the three-part entire ticket has a yellow tint. The imprints on it and the used section to the right of it are
green.1
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
11
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
One-Cent Imprint Usage
Parlor Car Tickets
A relatively small number of surviving Pullman parlor car tickets
bear a horizontal imprint at the bottom in such as way as to be tom
in half lengthwise when used.
The unused four-part ticket to the left shows the layout of a
complete form.
The bottom half of an unused ticket with a horizontal imprint. Note
that the ticket information is in a different format.
11 C PASSENGER'S CHECK.
2 E'»r ! - only f<»r Date Stamped upon'buck. 9
3 •'ben accompanied l.y the ti.-k<-t \ attached ! oc **
= .»*=., .
o WASHINGTON to JERSEY CITY. |*
- J* N ***• %
ff) •
A used ticket stub with a horizontal imprint. The design is similar
to that of the unused portion above.
Another used stub with a horizontal imprint. The design
differs from that of any of the others on the page.
[This page is not part of the current exhibit. All of the imprints are orange. The second section down on the entire ticket has
a blue-green tint.]
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
12
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
One-Cent Imprint Usage
Telegram
POSTAL TELEGRAPH-CABLE COMPANY
CONNECTION
TELEGRAM
THE COM M ERCIAL CABLE COMPANY.
"■ •
The I’osta 1 Telegraph-Cable Company transmits and delivers this message subject to the terms and conditions printed on the back of this blank.
Counter Number j Time Piled Check
Send the following message, without repeating, snbjec
mditious printed
To
igo
THE POSTAL COMPANY'S SYSTEM REACHES ALL IMPORTANT POINTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND BRITISH AMERICA. AND vi* COMMERCIAL CABLES, ALL THE WORLD.
Excerpt from SCHEDULE A, STAMP TAXES: “ Dispatch, telegraphic: Any dispatch or message, one cent."
The only imprinted telegram forms known were designed for the Postal Telegraph-Cable Company. No used copies known.
[The imprint is green, and printing on the telegram is dark blue.]
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
13
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
One-Cent Imprint Usage
Cablegram
POSTAL TELEGRAPH-CABLE COMPANY
CABLEGRAM.
THE COMMERCIAL CABLE COMPANY.
m
The Postal Telegraph-Cable Cunipimj transmits ami delivers this eablegra.
rms and conditions printed uu the bark of this blank.
To
The sender will please read the conditions on back and sign name and address thereon for reference.
THE POSTAL COMPANV'SSYSTEM REACHES ALL IMPORTANT POINTS IN THE UNITED STATE v AND BRITISH AMERICA, AND «ii COMMERCIAL CABLES, All THE WORLD
As a telegraphic dispatch, a cablegram was taxed at the same rate as a regular telegram.
Used copies of cablegrams with imprints are not known.
[The imprint is green, and the printing on the cablegram is brown.]
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
14
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
One-Cent Imprint Usage
Express Receipt
Excerpt from SCHEDULE A, STAMP TAXES: "EXPRESS AND FREIGHT: "It shall he the duty' of every railroad or steamboat
company, carrier, express company, or corporation or person whose occupation is to act as such, to issue to the shipper or
consignor, or to his agent, or person from whom any goods are accepted for transportation, a bill of lading, manifest, or
other evidence of receipt and forwarding for each shipment received for carriage and transportation, whether in hulk of
in boxes, bales, packages, bundles, or not so inclosed or included; and there shall be duly attached and canceled, as in
this Act provided, to each of said bills of lading, manifests, or other memorandum, and to each duplicate thereof, a stamp
of the value of one cent...''’
American Express receipt, taxed at the one-cent rate described. Used copies are not known.
[The imprint is green.]
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
15
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Revenue Stamped Paper
of the Spanish American War Tax Era
One-Cent Imprint Usage
Freight Receipts
J Form 364.
Illinois Central Railroad Company.
Station, ._
Received of . this date
a consignment of Milk, in cans, for shipment
Agent.
An Illinois Central Railroad receipt for
___ shipping cans of milk. Imprint in yellow.
A similar receipt, imprint in green.
• Form 864.
Illinois Central Railroad Company.
.190
this date
Agent.
Received
a consignment of
This is the second installment in a series designed to reprint the editor's gold-medal winning exhibit of Spanish American
War revenue stamped paper. Comments in brackets were added to supply information about color.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
16
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
The Ivory Trade in Connecticut
And its Consequences
By
Charles Kemp
When I first found the check illustrated with this article, I thought it was one of the most unusual that I had ever seen. There,
on a check from what must surely be a very small Connecticut town, was a vignette of an African grasping an elephant tusk.
As if that wasn’t enough, at the center of the check was a smaller vignette of an elephant with an Indian howdah on his
back. I thought that there must surely be an interesting story behind such unlikely scenes but never suspected what a dark
and shameful story it would turn out to be.
6
Figure 1. This check with the views relating to the company's business has “Pratt. Read & Co.” visible in the underprint
and is also signed “Pratt, Read & Co.” by W. A. Reed, Treasurer.
The key to the mystery was in the name, Pratt, Read & Co., that can be read in the background of the check. Their story goes
back to the 1790’s when it became fashionable for ladies to wear ivory combs in their hair. Demand always spurs invention
and soon a Deacon Phineas Pratt of Essex, Connecticut, developed a machine to make the combs. A nearby village called
Deep River was located on a waterway, which could provide power for a mill and access to the Connecticut River for
shipping and in 1798, Deacon Pratt and his son set up their factory there.
Figure 2. This cover of
a Pratt, Read & Co.
catalog features two of
the vignettes used on
the check.
The business prospered and others followed to both Deep
River and its neighbor. West Center Brook, on the Fall River.
A cottage industry grew up in the small villages with George
Read, Elisha and Samuel M. Comstock and George A. Cheney
proving to be the leaders. Mergers followed and by 1862,
the dominant firms were Pratt, Read & Co. and Comstock,
Cheney & Co. in West Center Brook.
Both villages grew as a result but West Center Brook owed
the most to ivory. It had only a few houses when Samuel
Comstock started out there but he built a classic company
town with everything centered on the factory. The town
even changed its name to Ivory-ton in recognition of its
leading industry. An estimated ninety to ninety-five per cent
of the ivory trade in the U.S. came to be located in southern
Connecticut with seventy-five per cent of the thousands of
tons of ivory that passed through Zanzibar making its way
to Connecticut.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
17
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
In mid-nineteenth Century, home entertainment grew into a national fad and pianos became the focus of many a parlor.
Accordingly, piano keys joined combs, buttons and billiard balls as products. The two factories also began to make
keyboards, actions and sounding boards to complement the keys. Customers included such familiar names as Baldwin and
Wurlitzer. For many years, the two companies provide jobs for hundreds and entertainment for thousands more.
The ivory trade, however, had its dark side and it is one of the most tragic episodes in African history. The most obvious
victim was the elephant population. It is estimated that at least a dozen elephants died per week to make the weekly
production rate of one ton and this continued for some fifty years. They were killed solely for their tusks with the carcasses
left to rot in the African sun. The missionary, David Livingstone once counted a herd of 800 but by as early as the 1870’s,
the herds were decimated to the point that hunters where forced deeper and deeper into central Africa.
This led to the less obvious and even greater tragedy. Pack animals could not be used to transport the ivory to the coast
because the sleeping sickness killed them and so humans were captured and enslaved for that purpose. One slave to the
tusk, which averaged 80 pounds and in stifling heat, they were forced to march hundreds of miles under brutal conditions.
Livingstone once encountered one of these slave caravans..."A long line of manacled men, women and children, came
winding their way around the hill and into the valley, on the side of which the village stood. The black drivers, armed with
muskets and bedecked with various articles of finery”. The guards fled when they noticed Livingstone and his party who
set about freeing their captives. "Knives were soon busy at work cutting the women and children loose. It was more difficult
to cut the men adrift, as each had his neck in the fork of a stout stick, six or seven feet long, and kept by an iron rod which
was riveted at both ends across the throat.”
Small wonder that ivory was referred to as the scourge of Africa. As elephant herds shrank, the porters were forced to carry
their burdens ever farther. Eyewitness accounts tell of seeing them with open sores from the chikote (a leather whip)
covered with flies and abandoned to die along the way. At the Port of Zanzibar, the scene grew even worse. The Arabs who
controlled both the ivory and slave trade cared nothing for the lives of their victims. Dhows lying at anchor were filled with
slaves as thin as skeletons while the dead were left on the beach, too worthless to bury. The survivors were sold into
slavery in countries like Brazil, which had not yet prohibited the trade. Livingstone estimated that for every tusk that
reached the coast, five men were enslaved or died. Perhaps as many as two million although the toll can never be known for
sure.
The ivory cutters must have realized this: George Cheney had been an ivory trader in Zanzibar for ten years and had seen
this misery first hand but neither he nor his partners made any effort to halt it. Victorian sensibilities were easily soothed
when the evil was lar away and out of sight. Indeed, when the growing scarcity of ivory led the company to experiment with
substitutes, their customers demanded that they return to real ivory. How many Americans realized that so innocent a
pursuit as playing the piano or billiards could have such a devastating effect on so many lives?
The use of slaves as porters went on for about eighty years before brought to a final halt but the Great Depression of the
1930 s brought new woes to the ivory industry as it did to so many others. Pianos were out of reach for most families and
the two companies were forced to merge just to survive and in January 1936, they were united as Pratt, Read & Co., although
located in Ivoryton. World War II also brought changes as the company turned to making gliders for the U. S. Army. Some
4,000 people were employed doing this until the war’s end brought a return to normalcy
Today, the company, although no longer in Connecticut, is entering the fourth Century in which it has existed but happily,
the last ivory piano key was made in 1958. Now plastic has replaced ivory and these magnificent animals, while still
endangered, are no longer slaughtered in wholesale numbers, nor or humans forced into servitude or to die, for the sake of
a bit of entertainment for others.
Figure 3. This photo shows a load of tusks arriving at Pratt. Read & Co. They
would have first been cut into pieces and then taken to the bleach house. This
was a glass greenhouse- like room, which could be as long as a football field.
There they were exposed to sunlight for thirty days before the final cutting and
polishing.
More information can be found at http://www.courant.com/news/local/northeast/hc-newivoryl.artsep29,0,1854955.story
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
18
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
Letter to the Editor
October-December 2005
Your "Find on the Internet" check for grain or stock transactions (TCC 75, p. 27) is neat. These commodity checks, receipts
and inspection certificates are also an interest of mine. Here are several from my collection.
& - v * /' 2//£' 183 / •
have assisted in cleansing and measuring the wheat raised
and that there is
y A bushels, and
that
verily believe said wheat was raised by the said
during the year 183/f-
County of
On this /+-* > '' ' day of ~-183y, per¬
sonally appeared the above named rSfrs- /y v> 9-
and made solemn oath (or affirmation) that the above certificate by X->— subscribed is true.
' £ si y/i J Justice of the Peace.
This wheat inspection certificate from Canton, Oxford County, Maine from 1839 is my oldest such piece.
KNICKERBOCKER ICE COMPANY
3Z ?
Qr C| j- CC ) Nos. 118 dud 120 North Broad 8treet and
' ^iiow 8tre*Wtoi Delaware Avenue
,A^y? is*
T(A fipniimis Ice Z/tim
VO ^
. Vo IS.
1° i\
Phi lartelphn
U KERSHOW & HUNT, -By.
u.’ij Xiey f '-A end'd
3 *» 2 m— , ^
aP ~~ 9 M t
'X~L f . 9 a,/
X-woakx Ldays, ® ^ Jr
Xe _ for ASP
1 _ ?■> -i/o
<? y, /.ai- / lA~
Received Payment /'nr ihe. Prrrpririnm,
T.aa
A receipt for summer ice deliveries in 1867.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
j East Concord, N. H., / ' 188 .
T& S.
g. p&ttsm, 9a.
. cents per quart, - - $ .
^ Sf Rec’d payment,
’r'T)
I Evans, Sleeper i1 Wo'idbury, Printers.
A receipt for milk from 1883, when it could be bought for five cents a quart.
Above is an inspection certificate for corn, and below is a 1909 check which can serve as a receipt for a load of potatoes when
cashed.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
OWSISFm ^ W|SCQMSIN STATF WEIGHT j
Qj«yuyz^i-z. !■
SbrnU
POUNDS
oF
%r
) i
(S?
iQ)
H. A. JUNEAU, State Weigh master.
PER y / _
An official certificate issued by the State of Wisconsin in 1912 for weighing grain.
AUSTINVILLE PRODUCE CO.
POULTRY AND EGGS
22723
AUSTINVILLE. IOWA
19 ... .
Pay to the
no n r o nr
S ^ ... ^
Dollars
STATE SAVINGS BANK
AUSTINVILLE. IOWA
J AUSTINVILLE PRODUCE CO.
\ Bv _ . ...
{VOID If NOT CASHED WITHIN 30 DAYS)
Telephone -
Aplinglon 347-2916 Ackley 847-2938
CLEAN. Fresh Eggs Bring Top Prices
AUSTINVILLE PRODUCE CO.
Austinville. Iowa
GRADE A LARGE
« $
GRADE A MED.
S
GRADE A SMALL
3
$
GRADE B LARGE
GRADE C LARGE
as
S
DIRTIES
m $
$
CHEX
as
s
$
MIDWEST BUSINESS F<
Judging from the routing number in the upper right comer, this is a more modern voucher check for the sale of eggs.
Regards,
Jim Adams
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
21
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Editor’s Response
Jim, I agree that checks and receipts designed to be used with various commodities are interesting. Following are some
examples from my collection.
No.
Pinckney ville, III.
W. k. MURPHY, Treasurer Pinckneyville Milling Company,
or Bearer,
Dollars.
pounds of WHEAT at
PAYABLE JIT THE BANK OF
cents per bushel.
MURPHY. WALL & CO.
The first item is a check of the Pickneyville Milling Company specifying that it is to be used in connection with the sale of
wheat. It was printed by Geo. D. Barnard & Co. of Saint Louis sometime between mid- 1898 and mid- 1901 on evidence of the
imprinted revenue stamp.
There is a handstamp on the back of the check saying, "The Collectors Club, Pinckney ville. Ill, March 3,1925. Compliments
ofCharlesN.G..."
The following items are unusual combinations of checks and receipts used by the Victoria Elevator Company in 1899 and
19a).
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
The check for flax, coarse grains, &c is on a rose-pink paper, while the one for wheat is on regular dull white paper stock.
,a **> § .p'f.iso./x, ..
Bought of
» //Jr... rent
the grower
Wheat .
less storage and u
Gross ../.... BwJj^fks."
THE
Dock
* Xrt . ./. .
3 $ ••
Agent.
Re&tk&offhe VICTORIA ELEVATOR CO.
^ .. .Dollars,
■ in full payment of the above grain,.
Form it a 3 M -98 (Signed)
s 3 a S^puvfA. mtm Station
Bought of
I W.. ^ oL \DT
* W n o ts per
less storage and io »ur<i4pP’. charges. TieUi
Gross 1 *~f(p
Dock . Bn* ^S$%fTl&ipCTOllfJ*t
Xrt fotif lbs By ■ ■ *
$ . ne',*sb&0(+ I K'fy/RZJADE I A TOR CO-
/ KASl If* - fptpkfllars,
in full payment of tire above grain . / t/~V
Form 17.-21MMS, <Signed)
*¥#'/.'■ t ■
11
Agent.
Two more Victoria Elevator combination checks and receipts of a slightly different style. Note that they read as receipts, but
that they have handstamps that indicate they were cashed by local banks.
Again, the instrument for flax, coarse grains, etc. is printed on deep pink paper, while the one for wheat is on white. These
both bear RN X7 revenue imprints to pay the Spanish American War check tax.
The Twelfth Annual Chicago Paper Money Exhibition will be held March 10 - 12, 2006 at the O'Hare Crown Plaza Hotel,
Rosemont, Illinois. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Sunday.
Presumably the entrance fee will be $5 for Friday and or Saturday, and free on Sunday, as it was in 2005.
The Annual Northern Virginia Stock and Bond Show will be held January 27 - 28,2006 at the Doubletree Hotel, 7801 Leesburg
Pike, Falls Church, VA. Admission is $3. Information can be gotten from Robert Schell, 6804 Jeremiah Court, Fairfax Station,
VA 22039, phone 703-250-2556, e-mail rsschell@msn.com.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Finds on the Internet
A prominent East Coast collector has been thinning out his major collection of revenue stamped paper and documents
bearing adhesive revenues. Both of the following items were purchased from him on eBay.
Downer & Bemis was a Chicago brewing firm. Many of their Civil War tax era checks survive, most with stains from being
stored in malt kegs, or so I have heard. An article discussing their various vignettes and the imprinted revenues they used
was printed in The Check Collector some years ago. Neither of these items appeared in it.
WHEN EMPTY GABES ARE RETURNED A RECEIPT MUST BE TAKEN FROM THE RAILROAD COMPANY ANDJENT TO US BY MAIL.
'ihrnjld of IKm riier, Bemis b Co.
'$/■" ©ewNurs Am $mm
omsa. Boom No. 8, N. E. Cor. Do»rborn and Madison Sts. 3EEWEKY AND MALT HOUSES, Cor. of Palo Alto St. and Douglas Ay.
jfa o j * * * |j <T(?\
This 1866 receipt for the purchase of malt appears to have been issued to Bemis, Wicker & Co., perhaps an affiliate?
The second item is a check made over for use by Downer & Bemis from the Tivoli Garden Company. Downer and Bemis used
checks of the First National Bank as well, so there was no need to alter the bank name.
Do unaltered checks of the Tivoli Garden Company exist? Or did this one survive only because Downer and Bemis used it
and stored it?
Does anyone have information on the Tivoli Garden Company? It should be mentioned in histories of Chicago.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Announcements
Our Webmaster, Coleman Leifer, and I are working at transferring the ASCC website from AOL to asccinfo.com. We hope to
get this done by the beginning of 2006. When we do, for some time use of the old URL will send you to a page that should
transfer you to the new one.
If there are no additional nominations for membership on the Board by the end of the year an election will not be held, and the
current members whose terms expire at the end of the year will be remain on the Board for an additional two-year term.
My relocation has had several effects on The Check Collector. First, many of you will have noticed that the last issue was
mailed quite late. It took several months to get permission to do the bulk mailing through the Northfield post office. In fact,
I was at the point of mailing all of the magazines first class when they told me it had been approved. I wonder whether the
threat of dumping nearly 300 pieces of first class mail into their hands at once caused them to make inquiries on my behalf.
The Northfield postal workers are very helpful and friendly, so it was probably coincidence.
Second, I was not able to find a printer who would match the low rates we enjoyed in Saint Louis. I believe that the one we
are now using did a very good job on the last issue, but they run about $ 100 a quarter higher. If non-profit periodical mail rates
go up appreciably in 2006 we may be looking at another modest dues increase for 2007. You will be kept informed if this is
likely to occur.
Secretary's Report
Lyman Hensley
New Members
1794
Richard M Magan
505 Dighton Ave
Taunton, MA 02780
Thru: SPMC
2 (Taunton Ma), 7 (Azores)
1795
Bradley A Baker
PO Box 44523
Indianapolis, IN 46244
Thru: Internet
2,25
i!)appi> iDolibaps!
3nti map pour collections increase!
tlje a&CC Poarb
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
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Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
Member Exchange
For sale. My personal collection of checks and a large check inventory. For price E-mail:nsowards@juno.com or
phone (260) 745-3658. Neil Sowards. 548 Home Ave., Fort Wayne, IN 46807-1606.
Wanted: US Government checks and Wisconsin financial documents. James A. Downey, 1534 Pennsylvania Street,
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. E-mail mufelika@itol.com.
Trade/buy/sell any financial paper from any USA town named Wausau, Wausa, Warsaw or Poland. Terence Kafka.
885 Spring Rd„ Mosinee, WI 54455.
Collector seeking St. Louis, Missouri checks from the following National Banks: Twelfth Street, Telegraphers,
Broadway and Washington. Ron Horstman. 5010 Timber Lane, Gerald, MO 63037.
New member is interested in pre- 1 950 Wisconsin checks. Will purchase or trade for any needed. Tom Casper. 358 1
S. 75 St., Milwaukee, WI 53220-1137. E-mail tcasper57@hotmail.com.
Collector needs old Philippine TREASURY checks, 1900-1915, with portrait of Gen. LAWTON or Pres. McKINLEY.
Top prices paid for nice examples, $ 100 and up. Send checks or photocopies for my offer. C.M. Nielsen, PO Box 71005, Salt
Lake City, UT 84171 -0005.
Wanted - Checks and related memorabilia from US branches of Canadian banks (Bank of British Columbia, Bank of
British North America, Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia, Canadian Bank of Commerce, Merchants Bank of Halifax,
Royal Bank of Canada.) Also pre- 1 9 10 Canadian checks. Please contact Stephen Oatway, PO Box 7325, Riverview, NB E1B
4T9 Canada. E-mail soatway@nb.sympatico.ca.
Exchange postings will be taken from ASCC members who are collectors only. Postings of 20 words or less are free; please
remit $3 each issue for postings of 21 to fifty words. Name and address do not count toward the 20 words.
Neither the Editor nor the ASCC can be responsible for compliance with any promises made in postings, or in response to
them. Be very clear as to the value you place on your material when discussing a trade. Fairness and common courtesy are
to be expected, but common sense must rule.
A Find in the Marketplace
Note that this 1898 check payable to Miss D.J. Jones was handled by the 'ladies teller" at Boatmen's Bank.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
26
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
'RuthsA. MCH&r Kvuytt,
Ephemerist
YESTERDAY'S MEMORIES, NOSTALGIA,
PASTIMES, INDUSTRY, HOLIDAYS,
CAPTURED AND RECORDED IN
HISTORY.
Historic, Charming, Lovely Items awaiting
your perusal and delight
1248 Ash Street
Lynden, WA 98264
Phone: (360)-318-8193 E-Mail: ruthie<a?nas.com
Latest list of Americana $1.00
American Puxzlk C.u<i>.-\
AUTOGRAPHS WANTED
Of FAMOUS PEOPLE
on CHECKS, CURRENCY and STOCKS
If you are ready for our always fair offer,
send your autographs by registered mail to:
RAY ANTHONY, INC.
BOX 9307
PORTLAND, OR 97207
503 - 223-1116
e-mail:beverlyhills@earthlink.net
To learn more about the paper money of the U.S. and the world,
join the
SOCIETY OF
PAPER MONEY COLLECTORS
Six annual issues of PAPER MONEY, the journal of the SPMC
Annual and regional meetings
Annual dues: U.S. Residents.$30
Canada & Mexico.$35
Other Countries.$40
Conatct: SPMC Membership Director, PO Box 117060,
Carrollton, TX 75011
A Find in the Marketplace
— . ....... —-
A D£P ° S . y//Y/f///s/yT, /h
S'S . ■ ’ / • ' - ^
'VY./Yj/Y ,///,/.; ^JL21UliiT_D UW PLAfi 5 LVYtt 7* ///:;/
/^¥\\ sY Yf //s / ,///</s/s/// Sf/sY/s/S///. Y,/y Ys YY/f f /v/f / s/
S - t-
j ' Yr* Y//s//r//rt.j /: St/YfiJ.' f////<■////A'
' L// 7Y,// ■ - 7 /
A beautiful second of exchange from Oregon, printed by Everit Bros, 1 Park Place, NY. It is written to H.W. Corbett of Cor be
Failing & Company. The word "currency" is printed in green.
itt.
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
27
Number 76
THE CHECK COLLECTOR
October-December 2005
UNITED STATES
REVENUE STAMPED PAPER
RN-A8 to RN-X4a
and a good selection of RM documents
We're Fiscally Responsible
as Both Buyers and Sellers
We Handle
• All Scott-listed U.S. Revenues
• Other U.S. Back-Of-The-Book
• Canadian Revenues
How do we sell?
• Through net price lists published
six times a year and offering thousands
of individual items
• By approval
How can we help you?
Claud & Judith
Murphy
We Buy & Sell
Paper Money, checks, bonds,
stocks, letters, old postcards,
stereoviews, cdv's...
If it's old and it's paper, we have it!
Box 24056
Winston-Salem, NC 27114
336-699-3551
RICHARD FRIEDBERG STAMPS
fax: 336-699-2359
310 CHESTNUT STREET, SUITE 106. MEADVILLE, PA 16335
PHONE 814-724-5824 FAX 814-337-8940
EMAIL FRIEDBERG2@EARTHLINK NET
e-mail: candj@murphyenterprises.com
www.murphyenterprises.com
Checks and more checks!
Stocks & Bonds
Announcing:
An extensive stock of Revenue Stamped Paper
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is now available. Purchase online at our
website or send for our FREE price list today!
* Tlu-Boston \iitiini.il IfcauJi.
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When it comes to finding the difficult material you need (like wonderful
early checks) always turn to us first - especially now that we feature
revenue stamped paper on our website. And Don’t Miss The Bi-Monthly
Auctions At Our Site!
www.oregon-pioneer.com
Also selling checks, stocks & bonds on eBay
eBay seller id: oregonpaper
Oregon Paper Money Exchange
6802 SW 33rd PI., Portland. OR 97219
503-245-3659 Fax: 503-244-2977
Eric Jackson
P.O. Box 728 • Leesport PA 19533-0728
(610) 926-6200 • Fax: (610) 926-0120
Email: eric@revenuer.com
www.ericjackson.com
THE CHECK COLLECTOR is a quarterly publication of the ASCC.
28